[mou] RE: [mnbird] Good Bird Questions

[Jeanie Joppru]

I would tend to agree with Jim. However, I think the answer has to match
the questionner. That is, one can tell what is meant by how the question
is asked. A serious lister can ask the question and mean "Have you seen
any species not often seen or rare?" while a casual birder might just
mean "Have you seen an interesting bird?". To the latter question, one
might legitimately answer "they are all good birds". If you pay
attention, you can usually tell what is meant, and of course if you know
the birder, you will certainly know how to answer.
Jeanie


> -----Original Message-----
> From: mou-net-admin@cbs.umn.edu=20
> [mailto:mou-net-admin@cbs.umn.edu] On Behalf Of Jim Ryan
> Sent: Friday, October 22, 2004 9:43 PM
> To: PastorAl@PrincetonFreeChurch.net; mou-net@cbs.umn.edu;=20
> mnbird@lists.mnbird.net; BIRDCHAT@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU;=20
> wisbirdn@lawrence.edu
> Subject: [mou] RE: [mnbird] Good Bird Questions
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> Gentle birders,
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> Being an intermediate level birder, I understand that saying=20
> "all of them"=20
> is not only irritating, but entirely misses the point. On the=20
> other hand, to=20
> me, a good bird could be one I really enjoy seeing, no matter=20
> how common=20
> (Eastern Bluebirds and Chickadees come to mind). A good bird=20
> could be one I=20
> have not seen yet this year, or in this location, even though=20
> they are=20
> expected or regular species. A good bird could be a common=20
> one needed to=20
> fill out a days list.  (e.g, Gee, I haven't seen a Hairy=20
> Woodpecker yet=20
> today - I know this happens to me at Xmas bird count time)=20
> Heck, when I'm=20
> downtown, seeing rock pigeons and House sparrows brightens my day.
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> Generally speaking, I would say seeing a bird not normally=20
> expected in the=20
> habitat/season could be a good bird without it having to be a=20
> Casual or=20
> accidental species, though of course they are really good birds. And=20
> obviously, any lifer is a good bird as well.
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> Pastor Al, you sure have a way of getting (good bird)=20
> conversations going.=20
> It's great to have you on the listserv.
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> Jim in S. Mpls.
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> "Knowing is not enough; we must apply.  Understanding is not=20
> enough; we must=20
> do.  Knowing and understanding in action make for honor.  And=20
> honor is the=20
> heart of wisdom." --Johann von Goethe
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> >From: "Pastor Al" <PastorAl@PrincetonFreeChurch.net>
> >To: <mou-net@cbs.umn.edu>,
> ><mnbird@lists.mnbird.net>,<BIRDCHAT@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>,=20
> ><wisbirdn@lawrence.edu>
> >Subject: [mnbird] Good Bird Questions
> >Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 14:28:43 -0500
> >
> >What's the first question that an incoming birder asks you as you're
> >leaving?:
> >
> >"Any good birds?"
> >
> >How does one answer that question?  "They're all good" sounds
> >sanctimonious.
> >Sharing your best bird from the location leaves you open to=20
> subtle scorn or
> >a game of one-uppance (you can see it in their eyes, "is that all"?).
> >Replying with a question may only delay the inevitable.
> >
> >So, this leads me to two highly philosophical questions on=20
> this rainy=20
> >afternoon (while stapling membership applications together):
> >
> >* In your opinion, what constitutes a good bird?
> >
> >* How do you answer the question?
> >
> >Al Schirmacher
> >Princeton, MN
> >Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties pastoral@princetonfreechurch.net
> >
> >(55 Bonapartes on a sewage pond were my best birds over lunch hour -=20
> >but
> >are
> >they "good" birds?)
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >mnbird mailing list
> >mnbird@lists.mnbird.net=20
> >http://www.mnbird.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mnbird
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